Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-04-20
THE COMMISSIONS SUGGESTIONS.

THE COMMISSIONS SUGGESTIONS
There has been considerable commen
upon the suggestions made by the Utal
Commission to Registration officers il
regard to the disabilities to which elec
tors are subject, which designate the
questions which may be properly asked
of applicants for registration. There is
no question as to tie right or propriety
of the Commission to make such sugges
tions as it may deem proper, to insure
uniformity of action among the Registra
ton officers throughout the Territory
The Commissioners have evidently
drawn their conclusions from the letter
OF the law, and while it is certainly to be
regretted that they could not recommend
greater latitude in the matter of interro-
cation, careful examination of the law
relating to that matter has failed TO con-
vince US that,a sworn interpreters of the
statutes they could make other sugges-
tions than they have under the law.
The following is all in the Commission
ers' circular which relates to the matter
of interrogation:
l. No polygamist, bigamist, or any person
cohabiting with more than one woman,
shall be entitled to register or vote at anv
election in this Territory; nor any person
who has been convicted of the crime of in
cest, unlawful cohabitation, adultery, forni-
cation, bigamy or polygamy; nor any per-
son who associates or cohabits polygamously
with persons of the other sex; nor can any
person register or vote who has not taken
and subscribed to the oath prescribed by the
Twenty fourth Section of the Act of Con-
gress of March 3, 1887; nor can any woman
register or vote.
The Commission is of the opinion that
the above specifications include all the dis
abilities to which electors are subject, under
the Laws Of Congress, and that no opinions
which they may entertain upon questions of
religion or church polity should be the sub
ject of inquiry or exclusion of any elector.
The oath is entirely promisory in its
provisions, is left entirely to the con-
science of the person taking it, and unless
some method can be devised to probe the
innermost recesses of the human heart,
we are at loss to imagine how a Regis
tration officer can sound it in such man
ner as to enable him to Judge of the fit-
ness of the applicant to be entered upon
the list of voters. The law certainly pro-
vides no such means, nor does it contain
a syllable. which by any reasonable inter-
probation can be construed into the
the right of the Registration officers to
reject any applicant who expresses his
willingness to subscribe to the oath. This
is the fault of the law and not of the
Commissioners, who interpret, or the
Registrars who execute it. The makers
OF the law evidently did not understand
the elasticity of the Mormon conscience
in the matter of retaining the political
power in the Territory, so long held by
leaders and for which they would sacri-
fee any principle or make any moral
concession to insure its continuance. If
they had, they would probably have
placed greater restrictions upon the
oath provision by giving greater latitude
to those who might be appointed to ad-
minister it. As it IS, we must accept the
law with all its imperfections, and when
il is demonstrated that men who pay
tithing to support polygamous and trea-
sonable institution; who admit that they
are members of an organization which
countenances and practices the crimes
against which the law is especially
directed, come forward and without
hesitation or moral scruples, swallow
the oath, perhaps the United States Con-
gress will awaken to the fact that such
people should be divested of political
power by other means than those re-
commended by Senator Edmunds and
other Legislators who support his i'm
practicable theories. Those who de-
nounce the suggestions of the Utah
Commission are influenced by their
ideas of what the law should
be rather than by what it is.
1t can scarcely be expected that
good effect should result from an i'm
perfect and inefficient law, and while the
members of the Commission doubtless
regret that the law which they were
called upon to interpret was susceptible
OF no broader construction, they are GER
tainly entitled to commendation for not
yielding to their feelings and advising
course which would never be sustained
by the higher courts of the Nation. The
members have received letters from the
highest legal authorities of the country,
and among them some who have adyo-I
Gated in Congress the most radi-
cal measures for the suppression
of the Mormon evil. All of
of these gentlemen have expressed their
in the views expressed by
the Commission and have indorsed !
its action as the most judicious course
that could be pursued for the loyal cause, |
under the restrictions of the law. Better
results can be accomplished by defeat |
under strict compliance with the law
than by temporary victory achieved by |
its violation. Let us give the statute a
fair trial, by complying strictly with its
provisions in the manner of its execution.
If we fail to effect our purpose we can 90
with clean hands before Congress next
winter and utilize our defeat as an argu-
ment for such legislation as will effect
such results as can never be accomplished
by such restraining influence as can be
broupht To hear unon tho consc;a,oos of